INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Today marks the deadline for young adults to register for the Indy Parks Corps, a program designed to help participants earn money, gain valuable experience, and contribute to their community – all at once.

The Corps offers those ages 18-to-24 years old an opportunity to earn up to $7,100 over a 12- to 15-week period while working a range of public service-based projects. Participants can also work for certifications that they can use for years to come in their professional and personal lives.

As one of the first people to go through the program, Mars Anderson-Wust earned OSHA 10, CPR, Stop the Bleed, and Mental Health First Aid training. “It was fantastic, just going park to park and seeing how everything runs. Phenomenal people work in the park system,” Anderson-Wust said in a visit with WISH-TV’s Daybreak. “If you’re ever considering being part of the program, would highly recommend it.’

The program initially launched last year as ‘Junior Park Ranger‘. Indy Parks rebranded as Indy Parks Corps to better align with its target demographic of young adults rather than children.

Anderson-Wust says participants do a wide range of work, from stocking shelves at food pantries, to picking peppers in the parks, to clearing trails – all with the goal of developing practical skills and encouraging a lifetime of community service experience.

“It’s a win-win for the city. It’s a win for the students that are participating,” said Marie Mackintosh, President and CEO of EmployIndy, highlighting the program’s benefits for both participants and the community. “I mean, that’s what makes my heart sing – the work that we do, for sure!”

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